D40 and 105VR or D80 and 85 f1.8?

Whilst I'm afraid I'm not actually in a position to buy at the moment, one can but dream... and I'd be interested in anyone's thoughts or comments.

I was set on a D40 or D40X with an 18-70 (a friend will sell me his 18-70) as a glorified P&S until I saw another friend's 85mm f1.4 shots and some images on here, particularly Julien's at https://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=113826 which reminded me how I used to enjoy playing with shallow depths of field with SLRs before I got my Coolpix 5700.

Unfortunately, of course, the D40/X won't autofocus with the 85mm f1.8 so I started to think of other options. I've handled the D40, D50, D70, D80, D100 and haven't been wowed by the D50, D70 or D100, and I prefer the feel of the D40 to the D80 although the D80 is the 'better' camera and more solidly built. So, down to the D40 and D80.

The D80 would work just fine with the 85mm lens but is bigger and more feature laden than I need - excepting auto focus and DoF preview.

Enter the 105mm f2.8 Micro, which would work with the D40 and have the advantage of macro, which is something I occasionally toy with on the 5700.

The 18-70 would be the walk-about lens, with a general array of subject matter, and the other lens would be for shallow depth of field work - be it portrait, street, abstract, etc.

As to that 'other lens', and the eventual point of my post, in addition to the fast lens v VR argument, would the 105mm give me the control of shallow depth of field that the 85mm appears to, and might 105mm be too tight?

I suspect the D80 with the 85mm might actually be the best option for me.

Or a D50. Discontinued but some new ones still available, available easily used or as a refurb from Cameta. Slightly larger but great alternative to the D40 and can AF with non AFS lenses. Less expensive than D80.

I know what you both mean about the D50 but I just didn't 'click' with it like I did with the D40 and D80, which is a real shame as it would otherwise be ideal. I think it's that old chestnut of champagne taste and beer money!

If you're on a budget, you really should consider something other than the D40. There are many kfne used screwderiver lenses out there that would not work with the D40. For example, if you want narrow depth of field, the 50 f/1.4 will give you that, but not on the D40.

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